LEXINGTON — North Laurel was on the verge of knocking off the state’s top-ranked team Thursday night, but an 8–0 run by George Rogers Clark broke a 37-all tie with 5:43 remaining in the fourth quarter as the Lady Cardinals pulled away for a 55–46 win over the No. 7 ranked Lady Jaguars in opening-round action of the Clark’s Pump-N-Shop KHSAA Girls’ Sweet 16.
Turnovers and second-chance opportunities proved costly for North Laurel.
The Lady Jaguars committed a season-high 30 turnovers, which led to 26 points for George Rogers Clark. The Lady Cardinals also grabbed 16 offensive rebounds, resulting in 10 second-chance points.
“We felt like we had opportunities, but we didn’t take advantage of them,” North Laurel coach Eddie Mahan said. “Tonight, we had way too many turnovers to be successful. I thought our defense was good enough to win.
“We didn’t stay where we needed to be, and at the level we needed to be in the third quarter,” he added. “I thought that was a pivotal moment, and that was when they created some of that separation. We go in with a three-point lead at halftime, feeling pretty good at where we are, but that third quarter was a game-changer for us.”
Mariella Claybrook led North Laurel with 28 points on 11-of-14 shooting from the floor while also recording 16 rebounds and six blocks.
Eighth-grader Laylee Phillips added 10 points while Haley Combs finished with five points and Bella Lewis chipped in three.
North Laurel shot 17-of-31 from the floor, including 3-of-7 from 3-point range.
Despite the loss, Eddie Mahan’s squad battled throughout the contest. The Lady Jaguars held a 13–12 lead at the end of the first quarter and led by as many as five points in the second before taking a 25–22 advantage into the locker room at halftime.
Turnovers and shooting struggles in the third quarter allowed George Rogers Clark to outscore North Laurel 15–8, giving the Lady Cardinals a 37–35 lead heading into the fourth.
After North Laurel tied the game at 37 early in the final period, George Rogers Clark responded with an 8–0 run beginning at the 5:43 mark to take control and secure the win.
